Artificial golf tee



Dec. 16, 1941. JW, LlH 2,266,558

' ARTIFICIAL GOLF TEE Filed Dec. 25, 1959 M* l v w )fm/q" "WML/QJ atented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL GOLF TEE Jacques W. Lich, St. Louis,vMo. Application December 23, 1939, Serial No. 310,729

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-33) This invention relates to artificial golf tees for golf clubs and practice tee establishments.

Golf clubs spend large sums of vmoney in the attempt to maintain the tees of the golf courses covered with the proper growth of turf. In many localities, due to the unfavorable weather, the grass does not thrive with the result that the tees are hard and dusty in dry seasons and soit and muddy in rainy weather.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of an artificial tee having an insert of fibrous or similar material so that the wooden golf ball tee or peg can be readily inserted thereinto and supported in position to hold a golf ball, and which insert is durable so that it will withstand the wear and tear caused by the players teeing off or walking thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial tee which is replaceable so that a new tee can be readily inserted in position in lieu of the worn one.

Another object of the invention is to provide an open topped box or container adapted to be placed in the ground ush with the surface thereof and to provide an insert of brous or similar material placed in said box and projecting slightly thereabove and adapted to receive the wooden golf ball tee or peg.

A further object of the invention is to provide an articial golf tee comprising a plurality of strips of fiber board, or similar material, arranged closely together and set on their edges in a suitable support whereby the upper edges of said strips form the teeing surface for receiving the golf ball wooden tees, or pegs.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of my artificial golf tee. v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of a modified form of my tee.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 'I-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing,` IU indicates an open topped container or support, and 'I I a replaceable tee member. The support is preferably box-shape having side walls I2, end walls I4, and a bottomV I5. The walls I 2 and I4 can be made of lumber of suitable thickness and width, in the instant case lumber two inches by live inches being used. The support or frame is rectangular in shape and is approximately eight feet long and four feet wide, although other sizes can be used.

The pieces of lumber can be nailed together, as indicated at I6; however, one of the end walls I4 is preferably secured in position by screws, as indicated at I'I, in order to permit easy removal of said end wall when it is desired toreplace the worn tee member I I with a new one.

The bottom I5 preferably consists of a plurality of sections of lumber I8, nailed or otherwise secured in position in spaced-apart relation with each other so as to vprovide openings I9.

The tee member II consists of a plurality of strips 29 of fiber board or other suitable material. The strips are cut to a length to t within the space formed by walls I2 and I4 at right angle to bottom members I8. Thus, if said bottom members I8 extend lengthwise between the end walls I4, said strips 20 run tranversely between side walls I2 and intersect and rest on said bottom pieces I8. Strips 20 are press-ed or packed closely together so as to ll completely the space formed by walls I2 and I4. The lower edges of said strips 26 rest on said bottom pieces I8. The height or width of said strips is such that they extend slightly above the upper edges of wall members I2 and I4, as indicated at 2|.k Preferably all sides of the projecting portion are rounded or beveled off, as indicated at 22, to eliminate abrupt shoulders.

These strips 20 are made'of fiber board, and the cut edges of said strips are exposed and form the teeing surface. Thus the golf ball tees or wooden pegs can be readily inserted in said surface and rigidly supported thereby to carry the golf ball. At the same time said fiber material is sufficiently strong and rigid to withstand the wear and to support the player standing thereon.

While I prefer to use strips formed from'ber board, other brous or cellular material can be used, either in the form of strips or a single piece.

In installing the artificial tee, a shallow pit or cavity is dug inthe ground to adepthsuiicient to receive the box yor support so that the upper edges thereof are flush with the top of the ground. This leaves the insert member II extending slightly above the ground a distance equivalent approximately to the height of the surrounding turf.

The articial tee is preferably painted green so as to blend with the surroundings.

To replace the worn tee insert I I, the container I is lifted out of its bed and the removable end wall I4 is detached, whereupon the old strips 20 are removed and replaced with new ones. The removable end wall is then secured in position and the container or support is replaced in the ground.

The bottom pieces I8 space the strips 20 from the bottom of the pit or cavity in which the device rests. The spaces I9 formed b-y pieees I8 permit water or moisture to drain away from said strips into said cavity thereby maintaining said strips dry.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, a driving tee 24 is shown having a frame 25, bottom pieces 2S, and hber inserts, as fiber strips 21. A board 28 of suitable thiekness' arid or the same width or depth as strip-S21 is placed parallel with one of the end walls and the adjacent strip. one end of this board is out diagonally downwardly, as indicated at 29, so as to eliminate the lower corner thereof. A vertically disposed bore 3o is formed from edge to dge near this sloping out, but suihcieht distaide fl tli d SO as to la the Corresponding bottom piece. A bolt 3I is loosely disposed i'ri said bore with its round head 32 disposed above th D' edge of said board. A washer 33 and a 'nut 3d are placed on the lower end of said bolt. The lhgth of this bolt is greater thah the width of board 28 and whethe head of said bolt bears against said board the lower ehd of said bolt projects a suitable distance below the lower edge of said board. Normally, when board 28 is in plac, said bolt drops ahd its head 32 rests on the upper ehd of bore 3U and its lower end is disposed a suitable distance below the lower edge of board 29.

When lit is desired to replace some of the strips 21, the head 32 of bolt 3l is engaged by a screw driver, a piece of heavy wire, or other suitable tool, arid the bolt is raised so that its upper end projects above the board 28 and can be convenieiitly engaged by a tool and thewasher 23 bears against the lower edge of the board. By exerting upward pull on said bolt 3l, the respective end of board 2B can be raised from the frame and theboard removed to provide access to the strips 21 so that Worn out strips can be replaced with new ones without disturbing the frame. Ihe board 28 is then driven back in its place and locks the strips in the frame.

The bolt 3| is loosely disposed in bore 38 Aso that it can be easily moved or pulled upwardly in said bore. he sloping undercut portion 29 of the board permits said end of the board tobe swung upwardly withthe upper corner of the opposite end of said board serving as a pivot. Thus by the use of this removable board the strips can be replaced with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

My artiiicial tee provides a smooth, allweather hitting surface which is soft enough to take a tee or peg and allow the shoe spikes to take a firm bite, and at thesame time it is durable and has a long life span. The golfer is as- Sured a hrm footing, a good flat and true stance at all times, in rainy as well as in ldry weather, and whether he uses spiked or rubber soled shoes.

The entire structure is buried in the ground so that only the green or hitting surface is visible to the golfer.

While I have shown and described herein the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of my articial tee could be made and substituted for those herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of my inventioii.

I claim:

1. An artificial golf tee comprising an open topped box-shaped support having a perforate bottom, and a plurality of strips of iiber board arrahged edgewise and packed closely together with their' lower edges resting on said bottom and their upper edges exposed and forming the tee surface, whereby each strip is adapted to havev inserted thereinto a golf ball peg tee.

2. An artiiicial golf tee comprising an open topped box-shaped Support having a perforate bottom, and a plurality of strips of ber board arranged edgewise and pressed together with their lower edges resting on said bottom and their upper edges projecting above the upper edge of said support and forming the tee sur! race, which is adapted to have inserted thereinto at any point a golf ball peg tee.

3. An articial golf tee comprising 'an open topped box-shaped support having a perforate bottom and a removable wall, and a plurality of strips of iibrous material packed closely in said support edgewise and parallel with said removable wall, whereby said strips can be removed upon the detachment of said removable wall, the upper edges of said strips forming smooth teeing surface, each strip being adapted to have inserted thereinto a golf ball peg tee.

4. An artificial golf tee comprising a rectangular frame, a plurality of members spaced from each other and forming the bottom of said frame, and a plurality of strips oriber board packed edgewise i'n said `frame at right angle to said bottom members, the lower edges of said strips resting on said bottom members and the upper edges of said strips projecting above the upper end of said frame and forming a smooth teeing surface which is adapted to have inserted thereinto at any point a golf ball peg tee.

5. an articial golf tee comprising a frame, a plurality of members xed to and forming the bottom of said frame, a plurality of strips of iiber material packed edgewise in said frame and having their lower edges resting on said bottom members and having their upper edgesproject-r ing above said frame and forming the teeing surface, each strip being adapted to have inserted thereinto through its exposed edge Va .golf ball peg tee.

6. An artificial golf tee comprising a frame, a plurality of members Xed to and forming the bottom of said fram-e, a plurality of strips of fiber material packed edgewise in said frame and having their lower edges resting on said bottom members and having their upper edges projecting above said frame and forming the teeing surface adapted to have inserted thereinto at any point a golf ball peg tee, and a removable board interposed between one of said strips and one of the walls or said frame, whereby said strips are clamped in position by said board and are released upon the removal thereof.

JACQUES W. LICH. 

